Understanding Hair Loss
Hair loss is a daunting experience, it can cause low self esteem and be the precursor to debilitating mental health states like depression and anxiety. Hair loss can also be the body's way of externally showing what is happening internally. So don't ignore it! Millions of people worldwide are affected, understanding what is happening in your body, empowers you to work with your body in a positive way.
Here at Holistic Scalp Hope, through consultation I will dive deep into the various factors contributing to hair thinning and loss, including:
- Hormonal imbalances
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Stress
- Genetics
- Lifestyles
There are many different forms of hair loss and scalp conditions.
Some of the most common conditions are:
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic Dermatitis (Cradle Cap) is a scalp condition, small amounts of yeast usually lives on the scalp, but with seborrheic dermatitis there is an overproduction. This causes yellow oily scales, which can be itchy and can make the skin red. The scales build up on the scalp and can get quite thick if not controlled.
There are a number of treatments in clinic that can help reduce and get rid of scales and long terms treatments we can discuss to manage the condition. Seborrheic dermatitis is a life long condition and many may find that the condition comes and go’s.
Many of the universal recommendations for treatment can dry out curly and coily hair, as the sebum our scalps naturally produce doesn’t travel down the hair shafts as freely as it does on straight hair. So treatment changes with hair type, which is why it’s important to choose a trichologist who understands the needs of different hair textures.
Telegon Effluvium
Telegon Effluvium involves rapid excessive shedding as a result of a lifestyle change or a traumatic event, it usually happens 3 months after the event and is often self correcting within 6-9 months but there is also times where the condition is chronic and will need a more in depth look at what is happening within the body.
Alopecia
The word Alopecia derives from the greeks and means hair loss. It sounds like a very scary word for many, but it does not have to be.
There are two groups of alopecia; scarring alopecia and non scarring, generally they say that with scarring alopecia there is no return of hair and with non scarring there is hope. But it is not all that simple, when scarring alopecia is caught early there is a chance that with treatment, some hair can return.
Non scarring alopecias:
Androgenetic Alopecia
(Male pattern hair loss/Female pattern hair loss) Androgenetic alopecia affects both men and women but there are differences in the physical features of hair loss in the sexes.
It is characterised by the miniaturisation of hair follicles with age, its severity and characteristics are inherited from our parents and ancestors. In women the miniaturisation rarely causes complete hair loss, but in men it can miniaturise until the hair follicle dies altogether. Androgenetic alopecia effects around 80-90% of men at some point in their lifetime and around 40% of women. There are a number of treatments that can help increase the thickness of the hair.
Traction Alopecia
Traction Alopecia is a condition caused by the weakening of hair follicles due to repeated pulling or tension in the same area. It most commonly affects the hairline, where the scalp is particularly vulnerable. Tight hairstyles such as ponytails, cornrows, or braids are frequent contributors. Over time, consistent pulling in these areas can lead to permanent hair loss, if left unaddressed.
Alopecia Barbaeis
Alopecia barbaeis is a patchy form of hair loss on the face, that usually effects men. Alopecia is autoimmune related and also is thought to have a genetic element.
Alopecia Aerata
Alopecia areata presents as circular patches of hair loss. For some they may have a patch or patches that crop up in times of stress and goes away without intervention, for others the patches may intensify and progress to alopecia totalis which is a loss of all hair on the scalp, it can then progress further to alopecia universalis/alopecia ophiasisis, where their is a loss of all hair on the body.
Cicatricial (Scarring) Alopecia
Cicatricial alopecia’s are scarring alopecia's, where the hair loss in most cases is permanent. These types of alopecia’s are also thought to be autoimmune related, they are caused by inflammation in the body and the immune system working on overdrive and mistakingly attacking the hair follicles and causing hair loss.
In clinic we can identify through the pattern of hair loss and which type of hair loss you can be dealing with, the main cicatrical alopecias are CCCA/ Central centrifugal cicatricial Alopecia, Lichen Planopilaris/LPP and Frontal fibrosis Alopecia/ FFA.
CCCA
CCCA predominately affects black women, its characterised by loss of hair at the crown which travels outward. Historically it has been solely attributed to our practises, but there have been studies which show a genetic predisposition.
LPP
LPP appears as small patches of hair loss on any part of the scalp, the patches can appear smooth in texture. People with LPP often describe an itchy or burning sensation in the scalp or tense spots like the scalp is bruised. For some here is excessive shedding as well.
FFA
FFA often starts for people their eyebrows, they notice their eyebrow hairs have thinned or gone and their hair line starts receding. FFA is characterised by loss of hair in a band from ear to ear, it can also cause rough skin from inflammation within the scalp and often lighter skin where the hair has fallen out.
Histologically CCCA, FFA and LPP alopecias all look the same it is only through clinic that they can be differentiated and diagnosed. People suffering with scarring alopecias are often told that hair loss is permanent and there is no chance of hair returning. But through managing the inflammation inside the body, hair loss can in some cases be controlled and if the scarring is caught early enough in the journey there can be a return of lost hair.
There are many other scalp and hair loss conditions and through consultation we can diagnose and create treatment plans to address individual specific needs. All forms of hair and scalp conditions can lead to hair paranoia and depression, by identifying what conditions are present, we can redistribute the power back in your hands.